Errggghhh...
...finally a Liberal politician was going to do something wise. Sex Education re-vamp for schools in Ontario...which is long overdue. The plan was to teach grade one students body parts with proper names.
The proposed changes outraged some religious and conservative groups who say they're not comfortable with teaching kids as early as Grade 3 about same-sex families.
Under the changes that were quietly released in January, Grade 1 children were to be taught to identify genitalia — among other body parts — using the correct word, such as penis, vagina and testicle.
In Grade 5, children were to be taught to identify parts of the reproductive system and describe how the body changes during puberty.
In Grade 7, the plan was to teach kids how to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
I am so surprised that people have opposed the idea of introducing these excellent incentives into education for kids.
Teaching kids clear calm lessons about body parts, and natural human relations helps protect children from corrupt coaches, priests and encourage children's positive boundaries about themselves.
I believe children from an early age...should learn about their own boundaries and body because it empowers kids to feel great about themselves and not be taken advantage of from other kids or adults.
Shame on Ontario!!!! Shame on the parents!!! And shame on McGuinty for chickening out...
Related articles:
1.) CBC
2.) Catholic Schools must teach sex ed (no shit)
3.) Sex ed to begin in grade one...original plan
4.) Politics and greeed for power likely reason for change to Sex Ed innovations
8 comments:
Candy they are doing Sex Ed in Kindergarden here in Green Bay WI.. That is part of why we pulled Kora.. I was quite upset when i heard kora saying words that I hadnt even told her about and they didnt send notices home saying they were going to do this with the children.. If I wanted her to know what those parts were I would have told her at home.. They both know them now and only use the words when the need to tell me where they hurt if they hurt. Sometimes they will get rashes and I need to know where and why.. So using the words is ok.. but just using them isnt ok in my world..
Its one thing I think parents should teach there children not the schools.. The schools can help but not the sole teacher on the subject.
In the age of the inner-nets, in which everyone has access to a universe of information, and in which kids the world over are looking at all kinds of stuff that would horrify their parents, it seems really sad that we would not want our teachers to talk about body parts.
I think the Premier backed off because he didn't want to make this issue a death ground battle. I'm sure he remembered that it was an education issue that felled John Tory.
sex ed in kindergarten? what!
Well, I have mixed feelings - I find often that parents are uncomfortable telling their kids anything - I agree they need to know proper names, and much more - I bought grandson a cool book - and he had education on puberty - and was rather pleased with it - notes sent home to inform parents - seemed to all work out ok - kids are educated either at home or in school or on the street - rather have them know than not, is also important to protect themselves. I remember when I got my period when I was 13, I thought I was dying...no one had ever told me about anything.
Tweetey, children before the age of five can memorize the entire dinosaur genera and nomenclature and that is over a thousand words. I believe children are incredibly intellegent and having open positive dialog about their life and body can protect them from predators.
Pervs take advantage of naive children and helping children know that their body is THEIR body and the whole community respects childrens intelligence.
We shall have to agree to disagree on this one Tweetey. I believe children should have healthy knowledge of all their body and nature by the time they are three or four. And that the school also opening dialogue on the human body and nature is a community based reinforcement that our bodies are natural and healthy and to be respected.
Early boundaries and discussion might prevent a pedophile, a coach, a priest from taking advantage of children.
Mister anchovy, that is an excellent example. Thank you. The "inner-nets" is like a massive "school yard"...exactly where we don't want kids getting negative impressions of life, nature or their bodies.
Furious ball, it is not sex ed of adult intimacy...the idea is to discuss the human body and the proper names of the human body. Surely a child of 6 or 7 would know and use the proper terms for their own body and/or understand life? I was near animals and farms and had several pets when I was a child. Surely the clear firm understanding small children raised near animal life (or with family pets) could be extended as a positive attitude towards our own bodies at school?
Gardenia, your recollection of your first period is such a good example of how keeping children in the dark...without the words and comfortable surrounding for open dialog is a form of cruelty to children. children love to talk about everything and having a safe group of sensible children guided by a calm clear adult about the natural and proper words for their body sets a tone of boundaries and empowerment for children. Teaching children proper names for their body...along with the concept that such boundaries are private may prepare a child to reject a pedophile trying to trick them into sex by taking advantage of their innocence and fear of their own body.
I fwe talk about our bodies and learn at home the proper names...isn't it also a sign of helth that a school room could also not live in shame of those words? Having a "secret" langauge is not helathy...having a community school room discuss proper names helps weed out bullies who might use the body as an insult with slang. Kids learn there is no shame in discussing life or nature because we talk about these things with our family and with our community. A kid able to talk about these things safely might also mean they can feel someone is out there to protect them against a predator...and they might be able to tell on someone making advances on them because they aren't afraid to talk...in general.
I am not saying its wrong. I just saying that the parents should have been informed on it before Kora came home announcing body parts that we hadnt even talked about.. I think they should include the parents in there discussions in school and ask them how they want to proceed with this and how the parents should answer questions at home after the child has left there care at school.. I agree with you all the way with predators and such.. You know my girls are almost 6 and 9 and I still let them shower together. I let them know its no different than when I was in school and we had to shower with like 10 other girls... So they each take there turn with the shower.. Undress get in and shower and then put a towel on when they are done and leave the bathroom.. No big deal.. I dont want them to be embarrassed about there bodies..
Candy, I just read an excellent article in favor of schools teaching sex ed: here.
I have three kids and we've always just discussed sex as it came up (leading to some heart-stopping moments, such as when my then-15-year-old daughter asked if intercourse hurt the second time!--turns out she'd been talking to a friend--*whew!*), and we've been very open. A teen pregnancy on TV would lead to a discussion about safe sex, and temptation, etc. But even with our level of openness, it's easy to miss some of the more technical details, like the exact mechanisms of menstruation. And it is an uncomfortable subject, and it's tempting for parents to think their little ones don't need to know yet.
I do agree that parents should be informed, but I definitely think age-appropriate sex ed should be a part of the school curriculum.
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